Furies

Hive Gallery 2011
Rochdale Feelgood Festival

The Furies, known as Erinyes or Eumenides are 3 sisters of classical mythology: Alecto, Magaera, and Tisiphone – avenging monsters charged with the duty of punishing those guilty of crimes against the natural order of society. They are particularly associated with the punishment of the breaking of oaths (lies), and for violations against kinship. These are subliminally political works that reference the topical and ideological diminution of the caring infrastructure of society and the violation of matriarchal or feminine order.

The Furies are depicted in mythology as completely vile – aged women with dogs’ heads, bats’ wings, black skin and hair of snakes; sometimes appearing as swarms of insects. They are foul smelling, and ooze vile substances from their orifices.

As recognisable entities, the Furies (furiae, meaning madness) are produced here in drawings, as metaphors for the external expression of inner rage.